How To Apply For Anxiety/depression Due To Chronic Pain

[BrookH]

Hi,

A friend of ours is rated at 50% with lumbar, cervical, carpal tunnel, gerd /h-h, shoulder raduicaphy, high blood pressure and something else. Anyhow they had a neurophysc visit while on active duty and the specialist said something like unknown reasons but problems like other pgw vets qualify with dsm iv (I think), now after retired they had another appointment because of memory problems, depression/anxiety (seeing a va counselor and such). The neurophysc tests came back good, brain is working well. A few things our friend said was the neurophysch seen sleep apnea and asked if treated with a cpap now. The answer was yes, so neurophysc said (not sure if he wrote it down) but possible reason test were bad back on active duty was maybe sleep apnea and good now because cpap has fixed that. Also said memory problems and depression now is probably because of current pain.

So it might be a stretch but if the military doctor on active duty thought svcmbr had sleep apnea could this neurophysch thoughts be help.......there are smr notes but not diagnoses.

Also would it be reasonable to claim depression/anxiety due to chronic pain and how is this rated?

Opps, also the person claimed sciatica on their claim but examiner said no sciatica but a lumbar strain. No MRI was given but probably 5 years later went to pain clinic and received a tens was also told pain was sciatica. Can that get reopened or not worth it and how to change to ivds or idvs?

Appreciate it and will pass all info on.

Edited June 10, 2011 by BrookH

[BrookH]

John,

Right......so he should see the VA Pain clinic again? He just got a new VA PCP which he sees in a few months for the first time, should he ask her to get back to the pain clinic? He is in VA Counseling I believe he said with his lumbar strain it shows something like "no further examinations needed, no expected to get better".

Brook

The thing is that if he is not in treatment and taking meds the VA concludes he is doing: 1. Better 2. Much better 3. Should be reduced.

[john999]

Well, he needs to document his pain levels month by month which is what you can do if you get on opiate program and/or use the pain clinic. The thing is he needs to go to the VA and complain about his pain so that it gets documented. If they give him pain meds that don't agree he just needs to keep complaining until he gets something that helps.

[iceturkee]

Well, he needs to document his pain levels month by month which is what you can do if you get on opiate program and/or use the pain clinic. The thing is he needs to go to the VA and complain about his pain so that it gets documented. If they give him pain meds that don't agree he just needs to keep complaining until he gets something that helps.

the question of pain threshold never came up on my c&p. of course, the examiner only look in my va medical file to see what i am taking for my back pain.

[willie 74]

So true, as a chronic pain person I had to complain and see my primary docter several times to get what we felt would assist me in everyday life as medicine goes. Dont hesitate to see your doc, tell them how you are feeling. Worse case you will lose some time out of your day.. Stay with it, dont give up..